Please Don't Buy Me Ice Cream: A Child's Rules for Priceless Parenting

Please Don't Buy Me Ice cream, is an empowering book with the message that happy well adjusted parents, come from happy well adjusted children. Hopefully this novel creates a ripple effect for future generations, enabling them to read the signs of a child's needs.When raising children, every parents wants to feel that they are doing right by their child, and that although they are unique, are acting normal. This handy text which in its very simplicity of a child's perspective, give both validation to the parents who may feel they could be in the wrong, while at the same time enlightening them to behaviors and the root causes in their children that were not recognized prior.I saw myself as a child and a parent in many scenarios throughout. This not only helped me understand the way my parents raised me, but also helped me examine my own motives while raising my two children.Ms.Greco discusses many challenging topics simply, and without being too preachy. She has opened up dialog which can bring healing to many families. I'll be looking forward to future offerings from this author, social worker, and mother.

I received Please Don't Buy Me Ice Cream as a gift. Its timing was perfect because I'm mother to two boys, ages eight and eleven. As a parent, I find myself searching for a reference on how to apply a measured, reasonable response to every new situation, from home behavior, to homework, to schoolyard dilemmas. My love for my children is not so easily translated into excellent advice for them. Dana Greco has written a concise guideline with both parents and children in mind. Ms. Greco elicits a child's perception and desire while focusing on a solution that one can embrace because it is so personal. The world a child navigates is so intensely similar to adult environments that when the advice is applied, it will last a lifetime. Dana's admonition: "Please don't gossip in front of me, it makes me question your sincerity" is a value that will prevent a child from developing disingenuous friendships. The dignity and integrity that arises from such interpersonal consideration will encourage lifelong relationships and trust. Page 33 is most potent, and the source of the title because it reminds of our own inclination toward discomfort. We spend a lifetime trying to adapt and "feel better" about situations, about ourselves, and about the world. Sometimes the discomfort is a vital signal, it is an opportunity to evaluate our situation and grow from it. Growth implies a learned technique from within. As Ms. Greco reminds us, resolution need not be immediate. We may cause our child to feel better with quick fixes such as food. But the solution eludes us-and them- while we practice this avoidance. The problem will resurface again. Dana reminds us to grapple with issues, not allow our children to run. Our own discomfort may be recognized by our children when they share confusion, but if we sit still together and try to solve it together, we will grow as a family. I believe Dana Greco's message is about family, not mothers or fathers, or only children, but the importance of each role within a family. Functionality is her foundation. I am thankful to Dana Greco for what she has given my children through my practice of her guidelines.

Ms. Greco seems to have great insight into how children think and what affects them. Her book is a very enjoyable read. It's made up of some 30 quotes written from a child's point of view to his/her parents. Each quote is followed by some advice and reflection from the author to the parents. For example, on page 32 the title quote from the child's point of view is: "Please don't buy me ice cream." Ms. Greco goes on to point out that when children are feeling insecure, upset, or having a bad day, they do not always need us to buy them something to make them feel better.One of my favorite quotes is on page 48: "Please don't assume I am a smaller version of you. I am me." And on page 54: "Please don't gossip in front of me it makes me question your sincerity." I think most parents will find that many of these pages have useful suggestions that can help them to improve ways of relating to their children and dealing with the many complexities in their lives. It's also the kind of book that a parent can read and discuss together with their child. Enjoy it.